Pan-Fried Pickles with Utah Fry Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep batter from falling off fried pickles? ›

Thoroughly drying the pickles is essential to the batter sticking properly, so don't skip that step. Simply remove the pickle slices from the jar, and drain them on a paper towel. Then, use another paper towel to pat each side of the pickles dry before dropping them into the buttermilk mixture.

For the crispiest fried pickles, add cornstarch to the breading batter recipe. More absorbent than flour or breadcrumbs alone, cornstarch helps remove excess moisture from the pickles, and also reacts with hot frying oil to thicken the coat of breading for a super crispy crunch.

Tips for Crispy Fried Pickles

Always make sure the oil is hot enough to cook with, or else the pickles will simply absorb the oil and they won't be crunchy. Reheat leftover deep-fried dill pickles in an air fryer or place them under the broiler until they get crispy again.

DIPPING SAUCE – These Southern fried pickles are paired with Creole Remoulade, adding another layer of flavor enjoyment. You could also try ranch dressing or spicy mayo if that's more your thing.

Dry the pickles well.

Pickles live in liquid and they need to be very dry before frying if you want the breading to stick well.

Place the breaded chicken on a cooling rack (or a platter) and chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. This cooling time will help the layers of breading ingredients solidify and adhere better after the chicken cooks. Once you start cooking the chicken, be patient and don't flip it over too early.

Soak Cucumbers In Ice Water Beforehand

If you're not canning your cucumbers immediately, leave them in an ice bath or in your refrigerator overnight to maintain firmness. Doing this before you start canning them will give you the crunchiest pickles you've ever had!

You can prep the dredge ingredients 1-2 days in advance. You can dredge the pickles up to 30 minutes before frying and place them in the fridge to help the dredge set. You can fry them and keep them warm in the oven for about 15 minutes, but not longer as they will lose their crispiness.

Alum, short for aluminum sulfate, is used in pickling to promote crisp texture and is approved, though not recommended, as a food additive by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

If the pickles are soft, they are spoiled from the yeast fermentation. Don't use them. Using too weak a salt brine or vinegar solution may cause soft or slippery pickles, as can using moldy garlic or storing the pickles at too warm a temperature. These pickles are spoiled and should be discarded.

Can you save fried pickles? ›

Storage: Fried pickles are best fresh and hot, but if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, place on a baking sheet in a single layer and reheat at 400 degrees until warmed through. You can also reheat in the air fryer at 360 degrees F for 2 minutes.

Known for its rich, syrupy consistency and sweet-tart taste, balsamic vinegar can elevate your pickles to new gourmet heights. Balsamic vinegar is very strong, so use it rarely or mix it with another vinegar to dilute the taste and get a more balanced flavor. Rice vinegar is another option worth exploring.

If you have a large batch, consider reheating in stages. And if your leftover pickles appear too dry, a quick spritz of cooking oil can be beneficial.

While pickles are a high-sodium food item, the deep-fried pickle is significantly higher. One deep-fried pickle spear contains 1,220 milligrams of sodium, versus 210 milligrams in a regular spear. One deep-fried pickle gives you more than half of the daily recommended intake, which is 2,300 milligrams a day.

Not shaking off the excess flour

Excess flour will create a thick coating that prevents the egg mixture from latching onto the meat. Therefore, if you want your breading not to fall off from the meat when deep-frying, you must shake off the excess flour before proceeding.

Usually it's the thickness (or lack thereof) that causes it to fall off during cooking. When breading fish, you should always start by coating it with flour. Then beaten whole eggs, then breadcrumbs. Make sure you press the breadcrumbs into the fish and if you want it extra crispy, repeat the egg and breadcrumbs steps.

If the oil temperature is too low, the calamari will absorb too much oil and become soggy, or will lose its breading all together. On the other hand, if the oil is too hot, the outside will cook faster than the inside.

Dipping your chicken in egg helps the breadcrumbs, or whatever coating you use, adhere evenly to the outside of the cutlet. You should start with a thin layer of flour, which gives the egg a better surface to cling to, then the egg, then the coating.